Columbia conducted an intense search before landing on DeHaan, testingactors such as Sam Claflin(Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables),Douglas Booth (LOL) and Boyd Holbrook (The Host).

DeHaan also went through a round of consideration with actors Alden Ehrenreich (Beautiful Creatures) and Brady Corbet.

There also was some debate about whether the role called for something darker and edgier, or more Robert Redford as the prototype. James Franco played Osborn in the Sam Raimi-directed Spider-Man films of the 2000s, taking a more brooding and dark path for the character.

DeHaan appeared such shows as HBO's In Treatment and True Blood before landing the lead in the 2012 film Chronicle, where he played an angst-ridden teen slowly losing control over recently gained superpowers. The movie was a surprise hit and put the actor on the map.

He now is onscreen in a bit part in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln and recently wrapped Devil's Knot, Atom Egoyan's take on the West Memphis Three.